Electronic unit, circuit design for the same, and production method

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a novel concept for the production of an encapsulated and at least partly organic electronic unit. Said unit embodies a novel concept for the combination of different electronic components to form an electronic unit, such as antennae, diodes (rectifier diodes and/or light-emitting diodes), transistors, etc. and a circuit, which is optimized therefore. According to the invention, similar components of the unit and/or the circuit are combined to form an arrangement on a substrate (region) and/or in an encapsulation, said arrangement being then electronically interconnected.

[0001] The invention relates to a novel concept for the production of an encapsulated and at least partly organic electronic unit. Said unit embodies a novel concept for the combination of different electronic components to form an electronic unit, such as antennae, diodes (rectifier diodes and/or light-emitting diodes), transistors, etc. and a circuit, which is optimized for this purpose.

[0002] Electronic units such as, for example, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, Sensor Arrays, photovoltaic cells and the like, which are based on conventional silicon technology, are more well-established.

[0003] Said electronic units are employed, for example, as electronic bar codes for consumer goods, as electronic watermarks, as electronic stamps, as bag tags and/or as tickets.

[0004] Such electronic units could be produced significantly cheaper, if they could be built, at least in part, from components, which are based on organic electronics (plastic electronics). However, this presents several problems. At first, various components groups such as antennae, rectifiers and/or transponder chips have to be produced in very different processes and then assembled and encapsulated.

[0005] Circuits for the new plastic electronic components, which are familiar from DE 100 43 204.2, for example, have been published thus far by Hart, C. M., De Leeuw, O. M. et al., Philips Res. Lab., ESSCIRC '98, ISBN 2-86332-235-4, 1998) (see FIG. 1 in this regard), wherein only modulation transistor 4 and integrated circuit 5 are based on organic materials. Antenna 1, capacitor 2 and the silicon diode 3 are made from inorganic materials (conventional silicon technology). One OFET (organic field-effect transistor) 4 is inserted after the rectifier diode 3. However, the problem with this embodiment is that modulation transistor 4 can only switch a small portion of the electric power, since otherwise the power supply for the integrated circuit 5 would collapse. Another problem is that rectifier diode 3 utilizes only half of the furnished electric power to supply the RFID tag, since one diode can only rectify one half-wave of the alternating current. The reason this is such a particularly serious disadvantage is that the furnished power for an RFID tag, for example, is limited by law, and reducing by half the furnished power substantially limits the working range and thus the range of application of the electronic units.

[0006] A typical electronic unit such as the RFID tag is comprised of several components such as, for example, antennae, capacitors, diodes (light-emitting diodes and/or rectifier diodes), possibly photovoltaic cells and at least an integrated circuit including transistors. Such individual components necessitate different production methods, since they require different materials and processing techniques. Producing transistors, for example, calls for particular high-resolution deposition structuring techniques, which requires working with materials that can be relatively easily managed, whereas producing organic-based diodes and/or capacitors requires handling of difficult materials, which in turn provides sufficient quality with far less costly structuring. Again, metal is generally used in the production of antennae, which requires completely different processing equipment and techniques. Producing at least partially organic (plastic) electronic units is relatively complicated and has currently not yet been the subject of publications. However, solutions should be found for the necessary marketability as a mass throw-away product, so that these many different production steps can be handled as efficiently as possible.

[0007] The invention is therefore required to provide at least in part organic electronic units and/or circuits, which through selection and configuration of the components allows for cost-effective production and encapsulation. The objective hereby is to optimize familiar circuits with respect to power transfer and (charge) modulation and to realize efficient mass production methods at the same time.

[0008] Following is the description of a solution on how this can be realized: a novel concept of combining components into one electronic unit, such as antennae, diodes (rectifier diodes and/or light-emitting diodes), transistors, etc., and/or suitable optimization of the circuit design.

[0009] The subject matter of the invention concerns an organic electronic unit comprising at least three groups of components:

[0010] One group of essentially inorganic units (e.g. antennae),

[0011] One group of passive, preferably, organic units

[0012] One group of active, preferably, organic units,

[0013] wherein

[0014] the group comprising passive units contains no active units or components, wherein the group of active units essentially contains organic field-effect transistors and usually no passive units, wherein the three groups can be produced independently from one another, wherein said units are connected by electric contacts on a substrate and/or via encapsulation forming a circuit, through which electrical contacts run between passive and active units from one group to another.

[0015] A group is considered one or several unit(s) integrated on one substrate (or region thereof) and/or under one encapsulation, which can be produced by procedural steps that can easily be combined in terms of process and that are based on comparable conditions.

[0016] Moreover, the subject matter of the invention concerns a circuit for an electronic unit that is at least partly based on organic functional polymers comprising the following components:

[0017] one antenna (1), one capacitor (2), one diode (3) and one modulation transistor (4) in front of an integrated circuit (5), wherein two capacitors (7, 8) and an additional diode (6) are switched in such a way as to supply the integrated circuit (5) via a capacitor (7), and wherein, at the same time, one diode (6) prevents said modulation transistor (4) from depriving said capacitor (7) with energy.

[0018] Lastly, the subject matter of the invention concerns a method to produce an organic electronic unit, based on at least one inorganic unit (antenna), comprising one passive, preferably, organic-based and one active, preferably, organic-based unit, said antenna, said passive and active units being pre-assembled separately, the circuit then being assembled through simple electric contacts of the individual components.

[0019] In this context, a complete transponder such as, for example, an RFID tag is considered an electronic unit, at any rate, a unit comprising several components, wherein said component represents the smaller unit, but can definitely consist of a multitude of components such as transistors, capacitors, photovoltaic cells, etc.

[0020] Diodes (rectifier and/or light-emitting diode), couplers such as an optocoupler, capacitors, resistors and/or the like are identified as “passive units.” An “active unit,” for example, refers to transistors, photovoltaic cells, sensors and/or the like. However, integrated active circuits could also be comprised of passive units such as resistors.

[0021] Within the framework of the invention passive and/or active units are preferably employed containing at least partly organic functional polymers (or electrically conductive or semiconducting organic materials, in general). For brevity's sake, such materials are identified as “organic units,” although said units may well embody non-organic parts, but at least one organic part, preferably, one organic functional polymer is embodied in one unit, which is referred to here as “organic unit.”

[0022] The circuit is particularly advantageous for the employment of RFID tags.

[0023] Antennae, for example, are utilized as units, which can be coils, for example, either made from metal or metallic compounds such as, for example, alloys, copper, aluminum and/or possibly also a metallic, organic functional polymer such as, for example, conductive silver and/or from organic material only, such as, for example, polyaniline, Pedot, Russ, or compounds thereof.

[0024] Antennae, such as the other units and/or components of the organic electronic unit, are also arranged on a substrate and protected by an encapsulation, which may form the substrate at the same time, against unwelcome environmental stress.

[0025] A flexible film (such as, for example, polyester) can be used as a substrate, for example. If necessary, said film may have distinctly different barrier properties against moisture and air, since the units are comprised in part of organic materials, which become unstable under the influence of moisture and/or oxygen. Said barrier properties may exist either through the film material itself, through additives in the film, through coating (such as, for example, silicates and/or metal-coating) and/or also through several of the aforementioned individual measures. The substrate film must be damage-resistant based on the conditions imposed by the production steps (temperature, mechanical forces, processing media . . . ).

[0026] Appropriate components, such as, for example, integrated circuits, consisting of organic transistors, passive units, organic diodes (light-emitting diodes as well as rectifier diodes), organic photovoltaic cells and similar components are arranged on the substrate and/or the encapsulation, preferably, flexible films. Moreover, a combination of organic and inorganic units is also possible (for example, mostly metallic antennae combined with an organic transponder chip circuits).

[0027] In order to insulate the films electrically, one insulation layer is deposited at least on the surface of the film (e.g. through methods such as screening, spray coating, crawling, laminating of an additional, possibly, pre-punched film . . . ).

[0028] All individual components were equipped with electrically conductive contacts. Two or more of these components were then interconnected by interconnecting said electrical contacts, preferably with electrically conductive glue or an electrically conductive adhesive.

[0029] By doing so, the required electrical hole contacts or strip tracks for the hole contacts (Vias) can be placed at the same time, or subsequently generated by opening the insulation layer, for example, by means of a laser. The vias can then be filled to make them conductible, for example, through screening of conductive glue or through currentless metal-coating. Under the simplest of circumstances, only a thin insulating layer is chosen so that filling of the vias can be abandoned.

[0030] The components were again encapsulated preferably with a film having a similar arrangement and similar characteristics as described for the substrate hereinabove. This can, for example, be carried out through gluing or welding. It is preferred that the encapsulation is deposited gas-tight. If the individual components were encapsulated before being assembled and contacted into a complete electronic unit, electrical connections can be lead through from this encapsulation, e.g., for power supply, signal transmission or for sensory purposes. Thus, an encapsulated unit with combined electronic components containing polymer is obtained. If the various components must be produced in different processes or, if it is economically more beneficial, the various components may also be deposited separately on the substrate film and/or on the encapsulation film and combine them as described in the assembly process hereinabove. Attention must be paid to the electrical insulation, on the one hand, and to a defined through-hole connection, on the other hand.

[0031] The production process of the respective component or the electronic unit is optimized in that the two films (substrate and encapsulation) are equally employed for the arrangement of components in order to require as few individual manufacturing steps for the complete production as possible.

[0032] Here, the term “organic material” or “organic functional polymer” comprises all sorts of organic, metallic-organic and/or organic/inorganic synthetic materials (hybrids), in particular those, which are referred to, for example, as “plastics” in the English language. It concerns all types of materials except semiconductors, which form classic diodes (germanium, silicon), and typical metallic conductors. Therefore, dogmatically speaking, there are no plans to limit the use to organic carbon-containing materials, rather, the wide use of, for example, silicon, is considered. Furthermore, the term should not be subject to any limitations with respect to molecular size, in particular, limitations to polymer and/or oligomer materials, rather, the use of “small molecules” is also quite possible. The word component “polymer” in functional polymer is historic and insofar contains no information about the existence of actual polymer compounds.

[0033] Said circuit is particularly advantageous for RFID tags that are based on organic material. As a result of the selection and configuration of the components on the units and the low number of different components, the circuit allows for cost-effective production and encapsulation.

[0034] The method for the production takes into consideration the fact that the individual components of an electronic unit, such as capacitor and transistor, for example, call for different manufacturing conditions and requirements. That way, all components of one “kind” are combined on one unit each, so that units can be produced in the shortest possible production line. The units are then encapsulated and linked with one another on the substrate, either individually or combined. In doing so, a unit embodying organic-based components can still be assembled with conventional, that is, silicon-containing components.

[0035] In the following, the invention is described in detail based on individual figures, which depict embodiments of the invention when compared to prior art:

[0036]FIG. 1 depicts prior art familiar from publications by Hart, C. M., Leeuw, D. M. et al., Philips Res. Lab., ESSCIRC '98, ISBN 2-86332-235-4, 1998.

[0037]FIGS. 2 through 4 depict schematically different embodiments of the circuit, FIG. 5 depicts the circuit from FIG. 4 divided into three components, and FIGS. 6 and 7 depict options on how to produce the circuit as complete electronic units.

[0038]FIG. 1 depicts a state-of-the-art circuit for an RFID tag. Only transistor 4 and the integrated circuit 5 of this circuit are made of organic material. Antenna 1, capacitor 2 and silicon diode 3 consist of inorganic material. Placing OFET 4 after rectifier diode 3 solves the problem of inadequate circuit speed and the OFETs' unfitness for alternating current compared with conventional transistors due to the properties of organic materials to act as charge carrier accumulators and not through the invasion of charge carriers. However, one problem with this embodiment remains, which is that modulation transistor 4 can only switch a small portion of the electrical power, since otherwise the power supply for gate circuit 5 would collapse. Another problem is that diode 3 can utilize only half of the furnished electric power to supply the RFID tag.

[0039] Simple switching variations according to the Philips publication, which consequently belong to prior art as well, consist in the integration of transistor 4 into gate circuit 5 or in leaving it out completely, and that the charge change at gate circuit 5 is directly utilized as a modulation signal. An example for this is a ring oscillator, which, as the sole gate circuit, is connected to output side of the rectifier. The oscillation causes periodic changes in power consumption, which can be directly read as charge modulation. Simple electronic watermarks can be produced this way, which oscillate with a predetermined frequency depending on the production of the ring oscillators.

[0040]FIG. 2 depicts an example of an embodiment:

[0041] One antenna 1 forms a ringing circuit in combination with one capacitor 2, which is adapted to the transmitter frequency of a reading device. An organic diode 3 forms a rectifier in combination with one capacitor 8, which emits a calendered direct current. An organic modulation transistor 4 is connected to the output side of the rectifier. One organic capacitor 7 forms stored energy for a gate circuit 5, and the organic diode 6 prevents said capacitor 7 from discharging via said modulation transistor 4. A gate circuit 8 embodies switching circuits, which read out from a storage and forward the information serially bit by bit to the output side. Said output side is connected with the gate of said modulation transistor 4. The speed of said gate circuit 5 is independent from the transmitter frequency of said reading device.

[0042]FIG. 3 depicts a similar embodiment, however, rectifier diode 3 is replaced by one bridge rectifier 3. Said rectifier comprises four integrated organic diodes.

[0043] If positive and negative voltage is required for the gate circuit, this can be accomplished by placing two rectifier units in parallel with simple diodes or diode bridge circuits. Another possibility to accomplish this is the installation of a bleeder after a simple rectifier circuit, for example, with resistors connected in series.

[0044]FIG. 4 again depicts the embodiment of a circuit, said circuit resembling that in FIGS. 2 and 3, however, all capacitors were replaced by one or two diodes each. Capacitor 2 is operated with alternating current and is therefore replaced by two diodes 2, 2′ placed in series with opposite poles. Said capacitors 7 and 8 are supplied with direct current and can therefore each be replaced by one diode (7, 8), which is switched in non-conducting direction. This example of an embodiment can completely do with capacitors, which greatly simplifies production of the circuit.

[0045] The problem concerning the low (charge) modulation in the circuit is solved as follows: the gate circuit is supplied by stored energy (e.g. one organic capacitor 7), wherein one organic diode 6 prevents said modulation transistor 4 from draining energy from said storage (see embodiment examples of FIGS. 2 through 4). Said energy storage is charged, when said modulation transistor 4 is blocked. One problem hereby is that the energy storage is discharged, when the bit rate 1 1 1 1 . . . (or 0 0 0 0, depending on the coding of the gate) occurs. This can be prevented, if gate circuit 5 of the RFID tag outputs the information bits in such a way that said modulation transistor 4 is shut off for a very brief period of time in between bits. This can be accomplished by not letting the energy storage fall below a certain charge state irrespective of the bit rate. The main advantage of the energy storage is attributable to the fact that said modulation transistor 4 can switch 100% of the electrical power without the collapse of the power supply to gate circuit 5.

[0046] The circuit solves an additional problem, which is the transmission of higher electrical power by utilizing organically integrable diodes, familiar from DE 100 44 842.9. This makes the use of a diode bridge circuit for the purpose of rectifying possible. This allows transmission of double the power, since both half-waves of the alternating current can be used (see embodiment examples of FIGS. 3 and 4). With the approach known from prior art, which is the hybrid use of a silicon diode, such a bridge circuit can practically not be used, since producing RFID tags with hybrid silicon diodes is too time-consuming and too expensive.

[0047] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention (FIG. 4) is based on the fact that organic diodes in non-conducting direction behave like capacitors. Two diodes placed in series with reversed polarity furnish therefore capacitors that can be operated with alternating current. The advantage of this circuit is the greatly simplified design of polymer RFID tags, since capacitors, that is, several layers of functional polymer and the appertaining process steps, can be dispensed with.

[0048]FIG. 5 shows the circuit depicted in FIG. 4 divided into various components 1,2 and 3.

[0049] At first, there is unit 11 having a substrate 14 (flexible film with barrier properties), which is provided with an electrically conductive track 1, functioning as an antenna, and with electrically conductive contacts 15. Then, there is unit 12 containing all components, functioning as diode or capacitor (2, 3, 6, 7 and 8), as well as also electrically conductible contacts 15. Finally, there is unit 13, combining all components 4, 5, which embody an organic transistor, as well as also electrically conductive contacts 15. Hereby, only several of such components must be based on organic materials, for example, an organic chip can also be assembled with inorganic diodes or, antennae may be made of metal or metallic compounds.

[0050]FIG. 6 shows how individual units 11, 12 and 13 can be beneficially assembled into one complete system.

[0051] Partial FIG. 6A shows unit 11 including antenna and contacts, partial FIGS. 6B and 6C depict a top view of units 12 and 13, in each case. Partial FIG. 6E depicts the assembled electronic unit and 6D shows the encapsulation film lying above. Finally, partial FIG. 6F depicts the cross-section of an electronic unit.

[0052] A) Using a suitable method, one antenna (1) as well as electrical contacts (15) are arranged on a substrate film (14) (e.g. through methods such as sputtering, vacuum deposition, galvanic or currentless deposition, printing, micro-punching, photolithography, etching or combinations). This embodies unit 11.

[0053] B) Unit 12, embodying, for example, diodes and capacitors as described in FIG. 5, is produced using a suitable method, and electrical contacts 15 are attached. One possibility to build capacitors, for example, is to generate a conductive polymeric region capable of metallization for the capacitor on the side of the substrate, arranged in such a way as to create capacity by means of said region and conductive regions of the transponder antenna after assembling both films.

[0054] C) Unit 13, embodying, for example, organic transistors 4 and integrated circuits 5 (produced, for example, by methods such as printing, photolithography, spin coating and the like) is produced using a suitable method, and electrical contacts 15 are attached.

[0055] D) Depicts encapsulation film 16, which is said to have barrier properties against environmental influence such as oxygen and/or water vapor like substrate 14, and can be deposited on the other units 11, 12 and 13 using suitable methods such as gluing or laminating.

[0056] E) Depicts the arrangement of units 11, 12 and 13 in the assembled state from above. Units 12 and 13 are arranged in such a way that the appropriate electrical contacts 15, in each case, are connected with one another.

[0057] F) Depicts the arrangement of E) aside; in addition, the encapsulation film is also drawn in.

[0058] The individual components or units 11, 12 and/or 13 are therefore arranged on the substrate or on the encapsulation film and coated with an insulating layer for electrical insulation. The films having been prepared in such a way are then adjusted and assembled into one complete system such as, for example, a transponder.

[0059] This can be carried out, for example, through gluing or welding. At the same time, the glue could also correspond to the aforementioned insulating layer or, by adding an additional step in the process, it could also be deposited, for example, through printing, spray coating or crawling. After the adjustment, both films are joined and pressed (autoclave, vacuum press, or the like). In this connection, the application of the glue and/or the pressing process are designed to guarantee that the thickness of the glue on the edges of the two films is minimized, so that there is also a lateral barrier against gases and moisture. At the same time, vias must be able to have electrical contact. Under high temperature and/or ultraviolet light the glue is quenched.

[0060] Said assembly principle is also beneficial for many additional products containing polymer electronic components, for example, photovoltaic-sensor assemblies with integrated gating circuits or OLEDs with integrated drive circuits. In this case, for example, the photovoltaic or OLED cells can be deposited on one film and the polymer circuits can be deposited on the other film. Of course, this way it is also possible to combine organic components with conventional, inorganic components.

[0061]FIG. 7 describes a different and beneficial way in which such components can be assembled to form a complete system. Again, the figure is subdivided into partial FIGS. 7A through 7E, which show the following:

[0062] A) Using a suitable method, one antenna 1 as well as electrical contacts 15 are arranged on a substrate 14 (e.g. through methods such as sputtering, vacuum deposition, galvanic or currentless deposition, printing, micro-punching, photolithography, etching or combinations). This embodies unit 11.

[0063] B) Unit 12, embodying, for example, diodes and capacitors as described in FIG. 5, is produced using a suitable method, and electrical contacts 15 are attached. Here, unit 12 is arranged directly on the encapsulation film 14, which reduces the overall number of units, thereby eliminating one step in the process.

[0064] C) Unit 13, embodying, for example, organic transistors and integrated circuits (produced, for example, by methods such as printing, photolithography, spin coating and the like) is produced using a suitable method, and electrical contacts 15 are attached.

[0065] E) Depicts the arrangement of units 11, 12 and 13 in the assembled state from above. Units 12 and 13 are arranged in such a way that the appropriate electrical contacts 15, in each case, are connected with one another.

[0066] F) Depicts the arrangement from FIG. 7D aside.

[0067] The method to produce electronic units, as depicted in the figures, can be employed not only for the production of RFID tags, rather, there are many more application examples, which embody at least one organic electronic unit and are arranged on a flexible substrate, such as, for example:

[0068] (Organic) photovoltaic cells or suitable Sensor Arrays with integrated electronics

[0069] Active organic displays (OLED or other displays)

[0070] Hand-held calculators consisting of several individual components

[0071] “Wearable electronics.” Electronic units inserted in clothing

[0072] Intelligent paper: electronics inserted into paper or paper-like material

[0073] Advertising labels with blinking and/or glowing and/or acoustic display. 

1. Organic electronic unit comprising at least three groups of components: one group comprising essentially inorganic units, one group of passive units, one group of active units, wherein the group comprising passive units contains no active units or components and the group of active units essentially contains organic field-effect transistors, wherein the three groups can be produced independently from one another, wherein said units are connected via electric contact on a substrate and/or via encapsulation forming a circuit, through which electrical contacts run between passive and active units from one group to another.
 2. Organic electronic unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the substrate and/or the encapsulation is a flexible film.
 3. Organic electronic unit in accordance with claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one electronic contact is produced through gluing and/or by means of an electrically conductive adhesive.
 4. Utilization of an organic unit in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 2 including an RFID tag, inside the RFID tag are a sensor array and a photovoltaic cell, wherein the tag is useful as any one selected from the group consisting of wearable electronics, an active display, an electronic bar code, an electronic watermark, an electronic stamp, a bag tag and an electronic ticket.
 5. Organic electronic unit in accordance with one of the claims 1 and 2, wherein a circuit, comprising the following components: an antenna, a first capacitor, a diode, and a modulation transistor in front of an integrated circuit, in which a second and a third capacitor and an additional diode are switched in such a way as to supply the integrated circuit via the second capacitor, and where, at the same time, the additional diode prevents said modulation transistor (4) from depriving said second -capacitor with energy, is produced.
 6. A method to produce an organic electronic unit comprising at least one group with an antenna, a passive group and an active group, said antenna, passive and active groups being pre-assembled separately, the circuit then being assembled through simple electric interconnection of the individual groups.
 7. A method to produce an organic electronic unit in accordance with claim 6, including a capacitor on a substrate film, conductive regions on the antenna and an encapsulation film wherein a conductive polymeric region capable of metallization is generated for the capacitor on the substrate film in such a way as to create capacity by means of said region and conductive regions on the antenna after assembling the substrate film and active and passive groups or the encapsulation film. 